Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

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Complete Cantata

• (Posted 2017-01-04)  CPDL #42502: 

Contributor: Paolo Pandolfo (submitted 2017-01-04).  Score information: A4, 21 pages, 1.17 MB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: scan of vocal score by Bernhard Todt

• CPDL #28961:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 44 pages, 1.24 MB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score, based upon Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe edition, Breitkopf & Härtel, 1863. Plate B.W. XII (2) (Wilhelm Rust). Complete orchestral parts available. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

Individual movements

1. Aria. Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen. (Basso solo)

• CPDL #28962:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 318 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

2. Recitativo. Mein Wandel auf der Welt. (Basso solo)

• CPDL #28963:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 109 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

3. Aria. Endlich wird mein Joch. (Basso solo)

• CPDL #28964:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 14 pages, 234 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

4. Recitativo & Arioso. Ich stehe fertig und bereit. (Basso solo)

• CPDL #28965:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 107 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

5. Chorale. Komm, O Tod, du Schlafes Bruder. (SATB chorus)

Full score

• (Posted 2015-03-23)  CPDL #34865:          (Sibelius 7)

Editor: Niels Brandt (submitted 2015-03-23).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 81 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: This edition is based on Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Band 12, Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig, 1863 (Wilhelm Rust). The autograph score by Bach was also consulted. The old clefs of the SAT voices have been changed to modern clefs. All fermatas except on the last note have been removed, to avoid misconceptions. For composers of the Baroque, fermatas simply indicate the end of a phrase, and the corresponding notes should not necessarily be prolonged. This pdf file contains both the full score and the 5 individual parts. MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.

• CPDL #28966:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 108 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Conductor score. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

Choral score

• CPDL #28967:   

Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2013-04-30).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 98 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Choral score, with organ accompaniment. Copyright by Charles H. Giffen for the Choral Public Domain Library. May be freely copied, distributed, performed or recorded for nonprofit use only.

• CPDL #03669: 

Editor: Marco Gallo (submitted 2002-06-11).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 22 kB   Copyright: Free Art License

Edition notes: listed alphabetically by composer under the alternate title "Du o schoenes Weltgebaeude, BWV 56" (the underlaid text is "Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder")

General Information

Title: Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Number of voices: 1+4vv   Voicings: Bass solo or SATB

Genre: Sacred, Cantata, Chorale   Meter: 87. 87. 88. 77

Language: German
Instruments: Orchestra: Oboe I & II, English Horn, Violins I & II, Viola, Violoncello, Basso Continuo

First published:

Description: Bach in October 1726 wrote the cantata "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen" (BWV 56), for Basso solo, with a concluding SATB chorale "Komm, O Tod, du Schlafes Bruder."

External websites:

• Wikipedia
• Bach Cantatas Website
• IMSLP (Bach-Gesellschaft edition & a modern edition as well)
• Bach Digital (Bach's autograph score)

Original text and translations

German text Cantate fur den neunzehnten Sonntage nach Trinitatis 1. Arie (Baßstimme) Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen,    Er kömmt von Gottes lieber Hand, Der führet mich nach meinen Plagen    Zu Gott, in das gelobte Land. Da leg ich den Kummer auf einmal ins Grab, Da wischt mir die Tränen mein Heiland selbst ab. 2. Rezitativ (Baßstimme) Mein Wandel auf der Welt Ist einer Schiffahrt gleich: Betrübnis, Kreuz und Not Sind Wellen, welche mich bedecken Und auf den Tod Mich täglich schrecken; Mein Anker aber, der mich hält, Ist die Barmherzigkeit, Womit mein Gott mich oft erfreut. Der rufet so zu mir: Ich bin bei dir, Ich will dich nicht verlassen noch versäumen! Und wenn das wütenvolle Schäumen Sein Ende hat, So tret ich aus dem Schiff in meine Stadt, Die ist das Himmelreich, Wohin ich mit den Frommen Aus vielem Trübsal werde kommen. 3. Arie (Baßstimme) Endlich, endlich wird mein Joch Wieder von mir weichen müssen. Da krieg ich in dem Herren Kraft, Da hab ich Adlers Eigenschaft, Da fahr ich auf von dieser Erden Und laufe sonder matt zu werden. O gescheh es heute noch! 4. Rezitativ und Arioso (Baßstimme) Ich stehe fertig und bereit, Das Erbe meiner Seligkeit Mit Sehnen und Verlangen Von Jesus Händen zu empfangen. Wie wohl wird mir geschehn, Wenn ich den Port der Ruhe werde sehn. Da leg ich den Kummer auf einmal ins Grab, Da wischt mir die Tränen mein Heiland selbst ab. 5. Choral (SATB Chor) Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder,   Komm und führe mich nur fort; Löse meines Schiffleins Ruder,   Bringe mich an sichern Port! Es mag, wer da will, dich scheuen, Du kannst mich vielmehr erfreuen;   Denn durch dich komm ich herein   Zu dem schönsten Jesulein.

English translation Cantata for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity 1. Aria (Bass solo) I will gladly carry the Cross,   it comes from God's dear hand, and leads me, after my troubles,   to God, in the renowned land. There at last I will lay my sorrow in the grave, there my Savior himself will wipe away my tears. 2. Recitative (Bass solo) My pilgrimage in the world is like a sea voyage: trouble, suffering, and anguish are the waves that cover me and to death itself daily terrify me; my anchor however, which holds me firm, is mercy, with which my God often appeases me. He calls thus to me: I am with you, I will not forsake you or abandon you! And when the raging torrents are come to an end, then I will step off the ship into my city, which is the kingdom of heaven, where with the righteous I will emerge out of many troubles. 3. Aria (Bass solo)' Finally, finally my yoke must again fall from me. Then will I fight with the Lord's strength, then I will have an eagle's power, then I will journey from this earth and run without becoming fatigued. O let it happen today! 4. Recitative and Arioso (Bass solo) I stand ready and prepared to receive the inheritance of my divinity with desire and longing from Jesus' hands. How good would it be for me, if I could see the port of rest. There at last I will lay my sorrow in the grave, there my Savior himself will wipe away my tears. 5. Chorale (SATB chorus) Come, o death, brother of sleep,   come and lead me away; release the rudder of my little ship,   bring me to the secure harbor! He may shun you who will, you can delight me much more;   for through you I will come   to my loveliest little Jesus.

(Du, o schönes Weltgebäude, verse 6: Johann Franck, 1653)